STRATEGIES AND TACTICS REGULATORY STANDARDSEncourage agriculture representatives and farmers to participate in thedevelopment of zoning ordinances and promotion of agriculture.• Establish collaborative, county-wide agriculture roundtable/committee• Coordinate with Jackson County planning officials to create balance betweencomprehensive plan and updated zoning for agriculture• Demonstrate flooding impact on crops to state and regional entities• Provide education forums, field trips and materials about agriculture, animals, farmsand agribusiness• Arrange for tours of grain elevators, confined animal feeding operations, etc. for localelected officials and plan commission membersDIVERSIFICATIONDevelop, promote and maximize agriculture assets of Jackson County.• Identify new crop opportunities including specialized grains• Continue development of a regional farmers’ market with value-added products andregional audience• Investigate utilization of school kitchens as commercial kitchens for food processingand value-added products• Partner with other agencies including school corporations and FFA to raiseawareness of agricultural careers• Partner with neighboring counties in recruitment of USDA inspection/grading for meatprocessing facilityHARDWOODSIdentify and communicate Best Practice Management for modernhardwoods agriculture.• Host a forum with state forester, Jeff Settle and Mike Seidl to share informationabout available resources for landowners with hardwoods• Identify markets for wood waste• Establish Web site and marketing materials for hardwood agriculture in partnershipwith ISDA• Identify new hardwood crop opportunities• Create education and awareness campaign for modern hardwoods agriculture

COUNTY STRATEGIES AND TACTICS EDUCATIONEducate the public about opportunities inagriculture.• Develop and implement programs in elementary and middleschools to develop skills and knowledge about agriculturalopportunities. (Could include materials in the followingclasses/subjects: math, economics, business, chemistry,biology, science, social studies, consumer and familyscience, etc.)• Conduct county research study on what is important inpromoting agriculture• Evaluate and create more ways to market and educatepeople regarding the direct market program

COUNTY STRATEGIES AND TACTICSAG/URBAN EDUCATIONPositively educate and increase awareness of agriculture/relatedissues to the citizens and elected officials of Jefferson County byproviding credible and correct information.• Use FFA/4-H to promote Food for America program in classrooms.• Promote the Hoosier Homestead Award program• Produce a monthly “Spotlight on Agriculture” piece that promotes localagriculture business, producers, and agriculture supporters in collaborationwith local media.• Organize a clearinghouse of credible, reliable agriculture related informationsimilar to the database being built by Region 6/Eastern Indiana DevelopmentDistrict (EIDD).DIVERSIFICATIONLead the region in identifying diversification strategies that enhancethe economic viability of producers of different sizes and areas ofproduction.• ID and coordinate working models of success through market research andthrough exploring and contacting groups such as Jennings County Growers/Hoosier Hills Meat Coop.• Organize a Jefferson County Agriculture Roundtable to locate potentialmarkets for locally-produced products and to serve as a support network forall areas of agriculture.• Encourage local producers to participate in the new ISDA market makerHARDWOODSEducate woodland owners in the economic value of woodlots andpromote proper management of assets.• Continue to keep hardwoods and local needs associated with hardwoods onthe agenda of the working group. As other tactics are accomplished, developtactics for hardwoods

OHIO COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATIONMichele ConyerPurdue Extension(812) 438-369Mconyer@purdue.eduMike KohlsdorfUSDA(812) 926-2406Mike.kohlsdorf@in.usda.govCOUNTY ACTIONTEAM MEMBERSMike AndrewMichele ConyerSue FisherHoward FletcherMike KohlsdorfBrad PonslerBeth TerrellGene WeaverCOUNTY STRATEGIES AND TACTICSREGULATORYDetermine the capability to produce alternative animal productsin Ohio County.• Partner and work cooperatively with neighboring counties on a meatprocessing facility• Investigate a cost share program for fencing• Provide educational opportunities about herd health and pasturemanagement through partners including Purdue Extension, Soil andWater Conservation District (SWCD), Natural Resources ConservationService (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Laughery ValleyCorporationREGULATORY (2)Develop user-friendly process for small scale producers to getinto business.• Support state and federal financing programs for beginning farmers• Develop public relations materials• Discuss agriculture zoning with local planning and elected officialsCONSERVATION/HARDWOODSEstablish coalition of local officials, farmers and economicdevelopment partners to collect information about conservationand hardwoods development and communicate the informationthroughout Ohio County.• Pull together and set meeting with education, soil conservation andeconomic development• Identify available information on Web sites• Pursue an Ohio County office for soil and water conservation with acontact person• Host state forester to evaluate and develop a managed harvest planSoutheast Region — February 26, 2007Agricultural Economic Development Initiative

RIPLEY COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATIONBrad BueningRipley County EconomicDevelopment Corporation(812) 689-4344ripleyed@seidata.comJerry and Rose GauckProducers(812) 654-3710COUNTY ACTIONTEAM MEMBERSPaul AndersonJim BenhamBrad BueningDuane DrockelmanCleo DuncanLeonard EcksteinBea FryGerald GauckRose GauckIrvin HarmeyerLarry HuffmeyerPat McKettrickOwen MenchhoferDavid OsborneBecky ReatherfordRobert SchickelTim SchwippsCOUNTY STRATEGIES AND TACTICSAGRICULTURE INTEGRATIONEncourage interactive practices that positively promotethe image of agriculture in Ripley County.• Support agriculturists and “ag under fire” as they encounter zoning,planning and potential public disapproval• Communicate to general public where their food comes from throughcool and fun methods such as media columns and community events• Educate woodlot owners on the value of their product through atargeted piece for heirs and coordinate a county forestry/field dayDIVERSIFICATIONMarket and increase sales of Ripley County grown andprocessed value-added products.• Conduct technical assessment of suitable products produced fromRipley County• Identify potential niche markets through consumer and businesssurvey• Establish framework for “How to Build a Market” (best practices)FOOD PROCESSINGPromote availability of local-grown products to RipleyCounty citizens.• Secure funds to update current processing equipment in county forincreased productivity• Secure facilities to chill and preserve produce• Promote current local product availability through advertising in localmediaSoutheast Region — February 26, 2007Agricultural Economic Development Initiative

SWITZERLAND COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATIONNathan CranePurdue Extension(812) 427-3152nrcrane@purdue.eduJon BondSwitzerland CountyEconomic DevelopmentCorporation(812) 427-9100jcbond@switzerlandusa.comCOUNTY ACTIONTEAM MEMBERSVicki AlthoffDavid AttawayKC BantaErica BrightJim ColeBill CordesSteve CrabtreeGreg CurlinJohn KeetonRuth LohideAngie SatterfieldJohn SchroerCOUNTY STRATEGIES AND TACTICSDIVERSIFICATIONIdentify and pursue present and future financially viable alternativeagriculture opportunities, products and services while retaining theuniqueness of Switzerland County.• Increase available resources – financial, literacy and networking• Conduct a feasibility study to locate markets for local products andresearch if the public wants the product.• Establish an “Agriculture Welcome Wagon” to improve public relationsof agriculture in county• Identify organic producers to share information and educate potentialinterested producers• Conduct a land use survey – do you want people or animals?FOOD PROCESSINGAttract more local producers of small livestock, meat, poultry andaquaculture by securing funding for a processing facility andsupport resources.• Promote greater use of Venture Out commercial kitchen• Start a Market Mentors marketing program• Establish an ag literacy resource center for potential growers• Market local products and services through Market Maker• Establish a restaurant/producers partners database• Utilize results of USDA funded Small Animal Processing ViabilitystudyIntroduce the Switzerland County Agriculture EconomicDevelopment plan to the citizens, elected officials and otherinterested parties at the FFA Community Breakfast on April 21, 2007.

11 comments:

Do you think the farmers in Dearborn County are comforted by the fact that the Messrs. West, Rozow, Messmore, and Hughes are representing their interests? Why does everything have to be controlled by the same people?

This opportunity permits Mr. West some personal face time with local farmers and to hand out business cards of local realtors and developers well ahead of the time that development plans are announced to the public.

You see, this brings both jobs and huge profits to local realtors and developers.